Monaro vxr exhaust options

[chrisf2air]

Hi there, new to the forum, and need some advice. I have a 2006 vxr, with a wortec cat back fitted. Absolutely love the exhaust note, I just want it to be louder the car is not used very often at all, and when I do drive it, it's purely to go for a blast and hear the v8 noise.

People who aren't in the car, comment on the noise, but it's not that loud inside.

I've been reading alot on the forums, about exhausts, and there seem to be lots of different opinions.

So, what is the best way to make it louder and keep the exhaust tone?

I read headers should make it louder in the car. Does it make a big difference? Is it worth it for the noise increase, if any? Not fussed on power increase really.

Lastly, what headers do people have fitted? Not sure I can afford wortec, so has anyone fitted the shorty headers from America? Or the pacemaker ones from Australia? Are they a straightforward swap?

Thanks everyone!

[SturdyHSV]

Welcome

Have you tried opening the windows?

Headers do make it louder, but it's always going to be a lot louder behind you unfortunately. Cut-outs are a possibility for ultimate loudness, could have them installed shortly after the cats, that would bring the fairly ludicrous amount of noise much closer to where you're sitting, but you'll probably lose a lot of the 'tone' as it'll just be riotously loud. Will sound pretty stout at full chat though

[007 VXR]

Always better out side. But headers will make it better as will ear syringing and open windows

welcome

[blue666uk]

Welcome!
Do you still have the centre silencers in on the cat-back as that'll make a fairly size able difference?
I had a CV8 with the Wortec Cat-back and no silencers - thought that was genuinely borderline on what I could get away with. Got some headers and high flow cats made up and had that fitted thinking it would just be a lump more power. The increase in noise was frankly staggering and much more than I was expecting, and it's a good noise too and like you, the car is driven to meets and for joy, not daily and I just think sod it - you only live once.
Cut-outs are a laugh, but you really can't get away with driving around with them open for long before you start attracting a lot of attention (not necessarily good) which is kinda probably not what you want.

[Mud_]

IME headers will increase volume a bit, but most noticeably valvetrain noise. You've already got a stainless cat-back which is about the best sound option - I think any removed/bypassed silencers will only reduce quality, but may be worth it for the increase in volume. Removing the cats will make it considerably louder.

[Yanayaya]

Hi there and welcome to the forum.

Like you I have the Wortec cat back system the switchable one and I can't decide if it's quiet or I'm just getting used to it now
As said already you can remove the cats and change the headers (something I'm doing at the moment) which will increase the noise.
I bought my headers from VPW in Australia.

[Wyld Stallyn]

Welcome to the Madhouse

I Have a Monaro 6.0 VXR with Full Wortec System with Headers and Electric Valves for those "Who Me..? " Moments

And a Cam too just to Let the Flavour Flood Out...

Your Welcome to have a Listen if you'd like... Just be prepared to start saving and the Inevitable Tunnel and Bridge and Wall Addiction

[TonyTwoTribes]

I have a Miltek on mine and open the windows, lovely. Then on a nice long journey close them so I can listen to radio 4 and the Archers.

[VinceM]

I have an LS1 VXR and that has long tube headers, Wortec cat back, 100 cell cats and cam, and it's LOUD without the centre silencers. I drove 1000 miles one weekend for the national meet and it was quite a challenge with the noise, but enjoyable nevertheless. This type of set up will annoy neighbours, almost certainly. I've since put the silencers back in and it's still loud, but not quite as in yer face, and is ok inside the car. The car is used everyday.

Without the silencers it does create more noise as mud says, it's an acquired taste for a daily but it's good to have the choice!

[chrisf2air]

Thanks very much for the help guys!! I've been looking at the cut out options, and have read alot about them over the Internet. Just wondering has anyone fitted and wired them in themselves? Any recommendations as to what type to go for if I did?

I also found this thread
http://www.vxronline.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?27...

I know it's not on a monaro, but seems like it might work with a switchable backbox. I.e, make one section really loud, without haveing to permanently modify.

[007 VXR]

I don't like the cutouts sound..

headers the better way to get more imho.

[Kiwi LS2]

Love my cutouts! Were on the car when I bought it, guy did it himself (complete with some shocking welding though...) but the sound is awesome. Scares the sh*t out of people when you drop it down a gear

[Granby]

Headers will make a nice difference, when i got my monaro it had a wortec cat back with the switchable option, with it like that the quiet mode was quiet and loud mode was a nice level but without being too loud

I had the wortec headers fitted (along with other stuff) and now the quiet mode was like the loud mode before but the loud mode was a lot louder and i loved it

[blue666uk]

Granby said:

Headers will make a nice difference, when i got my monaro it had a wortec cat back with the switchable option, with it like that the quiet mode was quiet and loud mode was a nice level but without being too loud

I had the wortec headers fitted (along with other stuff) and now the quiet mode was like the loud mode before but the loud mode was a lot louder and i loved it

As he said /\ /\ /\ but without the switchable bit for me, so just loud to chuffing loud

[chrisf2air]

Thanks guys! Anyone got a set of upgraded headers for sale?? Haha!

I'd love to get headers, but the wortec ones are out of my budget really.

Anyone had much experience with the shorty headers from the u/s? Are they much of an improvement?

[the_ferret82]

if you are just interested in hearing it inside the car, do the cheapest option, take the base of the rear seat out. sounds stupid but trust me try it.. it requires no tools and abut 1 min of your time..

[Granby]

blue666uk said:

Granby said:

Headers will make a nice difference, when i got my monaro it had a wortec cat back with the switchable option, with it like that the quiet mode was quiet and loud mode was a nice level but without being too loud

I had the wortec headers fitted (along with other stuff) and now the quiet mode was like the loud mode before but the loud mode was a lot louder and i loved it

As he said /\ /\ /\ but without the switchable bit for me, so just loud to chuffing loud

glad someone understood what i was trying to say

[SturdyHSV]

the_ferret82 said:

if you are just interested in hearing it inside the car, do the cheapest option, take the base of the rear seat out. sounds stupid but trust me try it.. it requires no tools and abut 1 min of your time..

This is a good point

[Aitch 'H']

I don't know how much Wortec headers are but I've got AAS headers on mine, they're hand made, good quality welding, sound great and cost me £700 delivered. They don't need your car as they've done so many now they do them on a jig so could be a good alternative for you

[ARAF]

chrisf2air said:

Anyone had much experience with the shorty headers from the u/s? Are they much of an improvement?

LHD headers will not fit on your car without some cutting and shutting, I'm afraid.

Welcome to the site - and the cheapest way to hear your car better, is to have your ears syringed.